Teammates, Clint Eastwood shows us all that "age is a state of mind". This is NOT a cliché to those of you who know what I mean - two of whom contacted the CHARLIE MIKE blog recently*. One of the first concepts you learn in SEAL training is that body obeys the brain - sounds simple doesn't it? I'm here to tell you it isn't - like most things in life worth learning or having - it takes practice, persistence and above all else, a positive attitude. Ever wonder why folks who go swimming in frigid waters without a wetsuit don't get hypothermia when all the medical pundits say it should happen within minutes? That's because these cold water swimmers conditioned their mind to tell their body: "swim through it - don't worry about the cold, I'm going to send more blood to your vital organs to you can continue to perform"....of course the first time you enter frigid waters, your brain doesn't quite say it like that or so politely - it's more like: "Holy Sh&t - can't breathe - what the hell am I doing - doctor say I'm going get hypothermia in minutes – I think it's already happening - Ohhh my God I'm going to die..." and so the logic goes - and where the mind goes the body will follow.So what's that got to do with Ted (62) and David (66) who both recently posted discussing their success with the Perfect Pushup?? Everything. Here are two men that don't allow their birth age to affect their biological age - they are effectively turning back their age by taking charge of their minds and their minds are telling their bodies what to do.
Yes, I know, we're all going to grow old and die. Fine. But whoever said that at some age you should just "take it easy" on yourself because you're "older" now should be shot. That's the wrong attitude - that's the attitude of someone who has given up on living. Here's the cool part - there have been several studies done over that last 2 decades of folks in their 80's and 90's - doctors put them through 3 month body weight training fitness programs...and guess what happened? Every single one of them GREW muscle – their muscles got stronger and larger! So, Ted, yes, we've had many folks like yourself experience muscle strength and size increases and significant weight loss - some folks in their 80s...and you know what, every single one of them has the same attitude - AGE IS A STATE OF MIND!
BRAVO ZULU to Ted (62) and David (66)!
CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN
* This blog is a re-run from 2008 -- I hope new Teammates will find Ted and David's stories as inspiring as I did -- and do!
Great words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteWhere are Ted and David's Perfect Pushup stories? I gave my dad (60) a set and have been trying to get him going, so this could be a nice motivator. Great post.
ReplyDeleteEvan, I'm reposting a comment made to this blog when I first wrote it. Think this gentleman's experience might fire up your dad? Keep me posted! AMM
ReplyDeleteRickP said...
Hi. I will be 61 in September. I started on the Perfect Pushup 3 week routine 18 weeks ago. My first max set was 9 pushups. At the end of the 6th cycle, my max set was 44. It is a great workout with consistent results. I totally agree with about the age issue. I feel younger now than I did 25 years ago and there's no question I'm in better shape now than I was then. And now because of the Perfect Pushup I know I can push myself physically in ways I didn't think were possible. The bottomline is you are old only if you consider yourself old.
June 27, 2008 8:35 AM
Thanks for a SUPERB re-run, AM. You know what's interesting about people like Rick? THEY'VE LEARNED HOW TO DO THEIR WORKOUTS; they know the "suffering" involved (it's not pain - it's weakness leaving the body, etc.)
ReplyDeleteHOOOOOOYAH!